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Call for government intervention in hunger strike

Two of the 27 hunger strikers, who cannot be identified, were hospitalised on Wednesday.

ABC TV

The Australian Tamil Congress (ATC) says it is concerned about the well-being of the Tamil asylum seekers on a hunger strike at a Melbourne detention centre.

Two of the hunger strikers were admitted to hospital yesterday after refusing to eat for four days but have since agreed to drink water.

The asylum seekers, held at the Melbourne Immigration Transit Accommodation in Broadmeadows, are in indefinite detention because of adverse security assessments by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO).

The ATC has called on the Attorney General and the Immigration Minister to intervene.

Rose Iser, a friend of one of the asylum seekers, is relieved that they have agreed to drink water.

"They understand that by drinking water that will sustain them over the weekend," Ms Iser told ABC local radio.

"I was very concerned that they would become critically ill over the next few days."

Ms Iser acknowledges it is difficult to understand their position without being able to release details about their cases.

"There has been no trial, no opportunity to present counter evidence," she said.

"I wish I could share with you the details of the case because it would assure people that people such as the man Raf (Epstein) spoke to yesterday cannot be characterised as threats to national security."